International opportunity awaits student prize-winner

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Brisbane’s Giles Hanley starts at ACU this semester thinking of the amazing international study possibilities ahead after winning a $10,000 ACU Open Day Prize.

There’s plenty going on in the world of Giles Hanley. The 17-year-old has just started his Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at ACU, but unlike many other commencing students, Giles has already got his sights set on an international study experience.

International Study Experiences are fast becoming a staple of a student’s ACU journey, with almost 700 students undertaking approved international study programs in 2015, making up 17 per cent of the undergraduate population. All students are entitled to a university travel grant to help cover the cost of travel for approved international activities.

Giles now has $10,000 he can use toward one of the wide-range of University-approved international study experiences after winning the ACU 2015 Open Day Register Your Interest Prize.

Prospective students got their chance at the $10,000 by registering at ACU events, on the ACU website, via the ACU Open Day app, and at Open Days held around the country, with the funds assisting the costs of flights, accommodation, and living expenses incurred during an international study experience.

Already scanning the ACU website and speaking with the Faculty of Heath Sciences to explore the international study opportunities, Giles said he had forgotten about entering the competition until he received the all-important email.

“I entered at Open Day and thought $10,000 would be an amazing help to being able to study overseas, but didn’t really think about it after that,” Giles said.

“So when I got the email saying I had won the prize and would get the $10,000 I honestly thought it was spam. Thankfully it was real and now I get the chance to study overseas as part of my degree.”

“My aim is to get into Paramedicine and I feel like what I can learn studying Exercise and Sports Science will help me if I can transfer across. I’ve spoken to people in the faculty who have been really helpful in explaining the different international study options available in Paramedicine,” Giles said.

“There have been students going on exchange to the United Kingdom to placement as part of their Paramedicine degree and that is something that potentially sounds like an amazing experience.”

Several faculty units are available at the ACU Rome Centre, including HLSC120 Society, Culture and Health and HSLC220 Health Care Ethics, in addition to approved exchange programs for one semester or a full year.